Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-01
CITY AND COUNTY.
GENERAL NEWS xorIs YRoK NAH-
CHIsrER AND cHHsTxRYIILD.
Judge Hancock and His Csurts-0ns sum-
mer.Car Arrives Electric Light
Personal, -.

acted the question was raised as TO the date
| on which the new Law changing the times
| for holding the courts In this circuit would
| become operative. The law not being at
| hand and uncertainty about the matter ex.
| isting il was decided to adjourn court and
| send a special messenger TO Richmond to
ascertain the facts. Judge Hancock de-
| signated a member OF the bar TO perform
| this service, and yesterday morning he
| went to the Capitol himself TO look into
| the matter and found that the law went
| into force on the day OF Its approval-Msy
14th.
Under the new law the courts will be
| held as follows: Dinwiddie, March 2lst
| and September 21st; Noitoway, March 3oth
and September 30th; Brunswick, April
10th and October 10Th; Greensvile, April
| 10th and October 20th; Sussex, April Both
and October Goth; Prince George. May 7th
| and November 7th; Chesterfield, May 18th
and November 18th; Petersburg, the 9th
| OF February, June, and December.
| Under the old law the Petersburg court
ought to be held Nay 30th. The misun-
| derstandng IN connection with the matter
| arose thus: The new law was drawn at the
| instance OF Judge Hancock and was LETT
without commencement clause, so that,
under the general law, II would 90 into
| effect the LIST OF July. The Committee for
| Courts OF Justice, thinking the bill defec-
| tive, put on commencement clause, which,
| Il was thought, bad been overlooked. pro-
viding that the bill should be in force
| from It's passage. The matter being settled.
| Judge Hancock will not hold his term until
| Monday the 9Th, Sunday being the time
fixed by law.
A SINGULAR COINCIDENCE.
Judge Hancock yesterday, in converse
tlon with Dispatch reporter, related quite
| a singular coincidence in connection with
| tins matter, by which the last term OF the
| Chesterfield Circuit Court was made legal
purely by the force OF accidental circum-
| stances. Under the old law this court met
| the 10th OF May. Judge Hancock opened
| court at that time, and after sitting for
| three or four days adjourned his court
| over. This law, as stated above, was APP
| proved May 14th, and under its provision
| a term OF this court was TO begin the 10th.
| Sunday was the 18th, but Judge Hancock,
without any knowledge OF the new act, re-
! opened his court on Monday the 10th, and
| occupied the bench for several days there
after. II will be seen from this that by the
mertst accident Judge Hancock acted in
strict conformity with the provisions OF
bOth the OLD ana the new law.
sUMMER-CARs.
The first Of the new summer.cars for the
| Richmond and Manchester Street-Car Line
arrived yesterday morning and was
brought over by Driver Powell, who held
| the reins and adjusted the brake with
| great agility. The car l. a model OF beauty,
| and is so made as in a measure to protect
| the passengers from the dust. This on the
( Manchester line is highly essential. The
| other three ears ordered with this one
| will not be here for some days yet.
Major selden, the superintendent, has re-
| ceiyed telegram from the John Stevenson
| Company, OF New York, to whom the con-
| tract for building the cars was given, say
| ing that on account Of the strike OF their
| hands the work on the cars has been de-
| layed, and they are not yet completed.
| Major Seld6n expects the other three cars
| almost daily. The ore received will not
be put on the line until the others arrive.
This railway has proved great benefit to
Manchester, and OF great convenience to
the people OF both cities.
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The old Dominion Electrie-Light aud
| Power Company, recently granted certain
privileges by the City Council, have their
! Porter streets, where their plant will be To-
Gated. Mr.. Flanagan, formerly ineman on
the Chesapeake and Ohio road, will have
charge Of the works. and a very competent
superintendent he will make. The poles
[ have been prepared and put IN place on
/ Hull street ready to be erected.
This company has no contract for furnish
ing street. lights. but hope the Council will
at an early day give them contract. They
| were only granted permission TO put up
! their poles and wires on the streets OF the
| city for the purpose OF furnishing light to
private consumers. Nearly all OF our mer-
! chants have already subscribed. The terms
are considered moderate.
MR.. WILLIAMS DOING WELL.
Mr.. Richard Williams, who on Monday
was knocked from the Petersburg railroad
bridge into the nver G5 feet below by a
passing excursion train, which he at
| tempted to board, ia doing well, and will
| be out in a short period OF time. lie Il, OF
course, very sore from his bruises and the
| terrible shock which bis entire system sus.
tanned from such irighiful fail, and did
not rest very well Monday night, but was
much more comfortable yesterday after
noon.
| MFR. Williams did not know that his coll
lar.bone was broken until DR.. Mathews,
| who was not at home when first sent for,
made an examination and discovered this
| fact When asked by the Doctor II, when
| falling, he realized his danger, he re-
| piled that when the train reached
! him be attempted TO board il; that
he was pitched up, and in falling
his shoulder struck against the rail
road.tie, and he knew nothing more
| until be had fallen into the water and found
| himself swimming for the nearest rock.
| He has no idea what part Of his body struck
| the water first. When he had gotten upon
/ the rock he called and waved his handker-
| chief, but 1t was some time before assist.
| ance reached him, and 10 him seconds
seemed IA hours. Nr. Williams has had
many OF bis friends aud acquaintances TO
| visit him and congratulate him on his for.
tunate escape.
DwELLING.HOCsE BURNED.
Between 2 and 3 O'Clock yesterday morn.
ing the dNelling-house OF Mr.. j. Il. Muse,
| depot agent at Centrala (Half- Way House,,
| on the Richmond and Petersburg road,
was destroyed by fire. The house Was
situated on the west side OF the road.
Most OF the furniture was DESTROYED. Loss,
about al, 200; insured in the Westchester
Company, or PennSylYanla, Tor S0OO. Mr.
Muse thinks the fire was caused by rats ig-
hitting match.
EXPRESS OFFICE.
The Southern Express Company has Just
| established branch office at the store OF
j. ID. Mathews Il Brother, Twelfth and
Hull streets, In this city. Thomas G.. Mt
theWs, Esq. who is popular with every
body Of all classes, will have charge OF the
office, and will personally superin.
tend the receipt and delivery Of
freight. An eXpress-wagon will meet
all OF the outgoing aud incoming Danville
and Atlantic Cosst-Line trains on this side
OF the river, and arrangements for the
prompt delivery OF express matter coming
or gong by the other roads entering Rich
mOnd will be made. This Is another evil
dence Of Manchester's growth.
PERSONALS AND BRIEFS.
Mr. Thomas NJ. Miller has returned
from Powhatan county, where on Thursday
las, be ran as the Democratic candidate for
Commonwealth's attorney. He was de-
feated by Mr.. Flanagan, the present Repnb-
lican incumbent, by 5S votes. Powhatan
usually gives 500 Republican majority.
Miss Lizzie Allen, who was hurt by fall